PARAñAQUE finally won at home and it came the hard way Saturday, nipping a game Imus quintet, 79-77, in the MPBL-Anta Rajah Cup at the Olivarez Sports Complex in Sucat, Paranaque.
The Gamboa Coffee-backed Patriots got a big lift from ex-PBA players Harold Arboleda and Juneric Baloria in outlasting the GLC Truck and Equipment-sponsored Bandera in a breathtaking, down-the-wire encounter that saw both teams exchanging leads six times.
Arboleda, who played briefly for the NLEX Road Warriors in the PBA, came away with a double-double performance of 12 points and 15 rebounds, allowing the Patriots to notch their second consecutive win to forge a tie for sixth to seventh places with the Navotas Clutch-Big J Sports with the same 4-4 win-loss record.
Baloria, who played alongside Arboleda with the Perpetual Help Altas in the NCAA, contributed only five markers, but his go-ahead three-pointer in the 1:42 mark of the final period put the Patriots on top, 78-77.
The Patriots and their hometown cheering crowd had to hold their breath in the last second of the match as a tip-in by Orly Daroya right after the final buzzer sounded had to be reviewed by technical officials.
The shot was nullified after they found out that the forward’s putback came in a split second late, preventing the game to go to an extra period and allowing the Patriots to secure their second straight win — both of them via an exciting affair.
Paranaque head coach Aric del Rosario, who used to handle Arboleda and Baloria in the NCAA, was happy to see his old wards stepping up big.
“Masaya ako kasi itong mga ito, binubuhay ko pa. Kamukha nina Harold, nina Baloria, wala nang kumukuha sa kanila, kaya sabi ko sa kanila ito ang pagkakataon niyo. Kung maganda showing niyo, baka makuha ulit kayo sa PBA,” said Del Rosario. “Bumubuhay tayo ng patay.”
The two hard-fought wins of Paranaque, according to Del Rosario, was a product of hard work.
“Sinabi ko sa mga players, isipin niyo yung paghihirap natin, lalo kami sa Quezon City kami, tatlong oras kami sa byahe,” said Del Rosario. “Gusto kong manalo kami sa Navotas, kasi kung kulelat ka kakalabanin mo yung nasa taas. Gusto ko at least nasa middle kami.”
Paranaque’s win nearly overshadowed Bulacan’s continuous streak in the tournament put up by Senator Manny Pacquiao with former PBA MVP Kenneth Duremdes serving as commissioner.
The Ligo Sardines-backed Kuyas whipped the Valenzuela Classic-Yulz, 92-83, to extend their winning streak to four.
JR Taganas finished with a career-high 19 points and grabbed eight rebounds while Stephen Siruma also tallied a personal high, contributing 17 markers as the duo conspired in giving the hottest team in the tournament its latest win.
With the win, the Kuyas forged a three-way tie with their victim and idle Quezon City Capitals-Royal Manila with the same 5-3 win-loss records.